VOA标准英语2008年-US Envoy in China to Discuss Iran's Nuclear Amb

By Daniel Schearf
Beijing
16 June 2008

The U.S. ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency is in Beijing for discussions expected to focus on Iran's uranium nuclear program. As Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing, China has been reluctant to support tougher U.N. sanctions against Tehran.
　

Ambassador Greg Schulte, 16 Jun 2008

The U.S. Ambassador to the IAEA, Greg Schulte, told journalists Monday Iran's nuclear program is a threat to stability in the Middle East and that it is in China's interest to help end the program.

"Almost 50 percent of China's crude oil supply comes from the Middle East," said Schulte. "And, so I would argue that actually China has, just from the standpoint of energy security has a major interest in convincing Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions."

Iran has been under increasing international pressure to stop its uranium enrichment program. Iran says the program is for producing peaceful nuclear power, but the U.S. and other western nations suspect Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons.

China supported three rounds of limited U.N. sanctions against Iran, but along with Russia has been reluctant to support tougher, comprehensive sanctions.

Iran is a major supplier of oil to energy hungry China, and despite the sanctions Beijing continues to do business with Tehran.

Schulte says now is not the time for business as usual.

"This is a time when the leaders of Iran need to understand that there are consequences for their action and so I think it's important that they get this message consistently from both what countries say and what countries do," he said.

Over the weekend Iran appeared to reject the latest international offer for nuclear power and diplomatic incentives¹ in exchange for suspension of its uranium enrichment program. Iran has said it will not suspend the program for any offer.

Schulte is in Beijing for consultations² with Chinese officials on Iran and other nuclear concerns. He says he would also like to see China, a member of the IAEA board, be more vocal³ in criticizing Syria's nuclear ambitions.

"Being on the board, being on the Security Council, China can add its voice to others basically saying to Syria, both publicly and privately⁴, that you need to cooperate fully⁵ with the IAEA," said Schulte.

Washington says Syria was developing a secret nuclear facility before Israel bombed it last September.

1 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

2 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

4 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

5 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。